Get to Know Desray, The Rising Pop Songstress of Sugar, Spice, and Sparkles
One can never get a second chance to do what they were supposed to the first go round, and Johannesburg-born songstress Desray has owned the essence of making the first impression count.
Proclaiming her advent in the Mzansi music scene with her maiden single, “Fiesty”, the Cape Town-raised songbird is part of the new wave, bringing along with her a sprightly combination of R&B, pop, and dance as she seeks to carve for herself a place not only in the industry but in the hearts of those who would resonate with her artistry.
“‘Feisty’ is a song about freedom and liberation. I felt that I was not allowed to explore music for a long time. I wanted to release this song first to establish a strong foundation in the music industry. It’s important for me to speak about what I have experienced through my music, and ‘Feisty’ does that and gives me some freedom to explore and be creative in my next steps. I feel as though the song does not limit me to one lane, which is exciting! I love this song because, although it was a challenge for me to finally get here, I am able to make the song fun and really focus on the positive aspect of my experience. It is easy to step into darkness when you have faced resistance, I really wanted to make the point that the challenge has fuelled me to be brilliant and I never ever gave up. The song is about living with poise and beauty, letting go of the past, focusing on the now and the opportunity of the future. And this is exactly what I intend on doing,” she said.
Listen to “Fiesty”:
More than a song, her first single is a mission statement, and the consummation of a childhood dream she nursed with her drive and her discipline.
Describing music as a hideout she could run to since she was a young girl, Desray hearkened back to how writing songs was second nature to her, although back then it was all for fun and kicks. Years and years before the birth of “Fiesty”. Without any formal training and artistic coaching during her younger years, since her parents prioritised school and extra curriculum, it was Desray and her gift against all the odds stacked against her – which she now stands victorious against.
“I spent most of my childhood in a suburb of Cape Town. From a young age, I found myself composing lyrics and singing songs for fun, and it was something that came very naturally to me. My parents really focused on the sports and academic side of things, so I was never taken for singing lessons or dance or performing art classes. So, I had to rediscover my love for music as I got older and almost keep it a secret from the world for a long time. Music became a place that I could escape to, and I started putting more focus and it has become fundamental in my life today,” she said.
Now standing triumphantly on the summit with her inner child beaming with pride, the rising songbird has conquered one mountain but without the intention of resting on her laurels. With 2025 all but mapped out, Desray revealed that “Fiesty” was the jumping-off place for her to launch her forthcoming maiden album. Dubbing her work as a universe and an intricate cobweb linking her to relationships and environmental awareness, Desray spoke a bit about the album and plans for dropping the visuals of “Fiesty”.
“I am super excited for this coming year; it’s going to be a big year for me. People can expect a lot of purple, sparkle and glitter from the music video of ‘Fiesty’! Ultimately, I wanted to portray strong feminine visuals and aspects in this video and for all the projects linked to this first album or EP. With the music video, we wanted the production to be of a high quality and take my fans on a journey, and to include them in my journey too. I wanted the message of the song to come through in the video, and for fans to feel inspired by the song and the visuals. I feel like this first video marks the real beginning of my era.
“The first project is focused on exploring myself within music. ‘Feisty’ was the starting point of being liberated from previous limitations, and now that the ‘veil’ is lifted, I move on to explore connection, my relationship with the outer world, friends, and the beauty of the world with an open heart. There is also an underlying theme of sustainability that I hope to portray, as looking after our animals and the planet is really important to me. I feel a lot of relief, in finally exploring a deep-seated talent and love of mine. It’s a whole new world. With that being said, I’m building my universe and I’m really looking forward to sharing that with my fans,” she said.
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Artistry comes with a purpose and an artist’s desire to move, to inquire, or to give answers to questions often asked. For Desray, what spurred her to pursue music was to nudge people to dig deep and search their souls in order to find themselves and what they could contribute by owning their purpose. To this day, that is still her motivation.
“I hope to encourage people of all ages to question who they are, who they want to be, and to realise that they can have an impact on the world in their own unique ways. We don’t always realise that we can make a difference and make our mark, so I hope to inspire people to let go of whatever is holding them back and explore their creative side. We are all creators in our own way, and there is magic in everything – we just have to see it,” she said.
Although influenced by a host of global superstars such as Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Billie Eilish, and Avril Lavigne, Desray touched on the importance of staying the course and running in her own lane without letting external noise interfere with her music and her growth. Centering herself through meditation, she placed a premium on remaining connected with herself to make the most original music possible.
“To be honest, I don’t always look to what’s out there. It’s important to stay in the loop, yes. However, with all of the noise that is out there, with the impact and access that social media has created, to remain authentic and unique can be a challenge – so I like to go for long periods of time without referencing any outside sources and try to create something original. I think it’s important to follow your own path and not to try and keep up with everyone else. I love to meditate as it really centers me, but most of all I like creating a little bubble for myself to create and explore without the pressure of outside social influences, where I can just be me! I feel like that’s where the magic happens,” she said.
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Having already made a home within the pop genre, Desray longed to try out her hand in other rather surprising wildcard sounds.
“I am such a versatile artist and it was extremely difficult to choose a genre to launch into because of this. That’s actually why I chose pop, because it is a versatile space with many sub-genres so I wouldn’t have to limit myself, and that’s also why we launched ‘Feisty’ as my first single because we can really go anywhere from here. But if I had to mention a few, I would say hip-hop (because I danced in this genre for a long time and I embrace the expression that hip-hop affords me), rock and maybe indie music. Right now I am loving pop,” she said.